To What Extent Is Macbeth Responsible For Duncan's Murder

In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth King Duncan’s murder is a significant point in the story that eventually leads to the demise of Macbeth and his wife, Lady Macbeth. However, who is really responsible for his murder? Although both hold some responsibility as they conspired against him, Macbeth is the one is more responsible because of his longing desire to become the king of Scotland. Macbeth was the one to ultimately make the decision to carry through with the murder and tried to justify it afterwards. Even if he felt remorse and contemplated, he still went through with it and paid the price afterwards.

Since the beginning, Macbeth has always wanted to become king, but was secretive and hid his inner thoughts from the people around him. For instance, he hints to this desire after Duncan gives his son Malcom, the title of the Prince of Cumberland, to be next king, to which Macbeth responds with “Stars, hide your fires; let not light see my black and desires.” (Shakespeare 1.4.57-58). Chiaroscuro is also used here because Macbeth contrasts light and dark, implying that the dark is the evil that can be revealed by the light. Additionally, he does not want Duncan, Banquo or anyone to know how frustrated he really is

knowing that he is not to become the next king but Malcolm is. Instead, Macbeth suppresses this feeling in front of his friends and says it as an aside to the audience.
Despite, Macbeth’s contemplation, he still knowingly decides to murder King Duncan.

Even though he acknowledges his relationship with Duncan and how “He’s in double trust: first, as I am his kinsman and his subject, … then, as his host, who should against his murderer shut the door, not bear the knife myself.” (Shakespeare 1.7.12-16) he brushes it aside. When he comes back with bloody daggers, evidence of his murder, and tells Lady Macbeth “I have done the deed.” (Shakespeare 2.2.19) this shows that he was aware of the circumstances that he was in, but chose to either ignore it, or deem insignificant. Thus, Macbeth crosses the ethical line at this point because he makes the conscious decision to murder King Duncan as a way to become king of

Scotland.
Consequently, Macbeth tries to hide his crime and is willing to commit further crimes to secure his throne, emphasizing his responsibility of it. For example, he begins to plan the murder of his friend Banquo because “There is none but he whose being I do fear; and under him my genius is rebuked, as it is said, Mark Antony’s was by Caesar.” (Shakespeare 2.1.59-62). The allusion to Mark Antony is to highlight how threatened Macbeth feels by Banquo’s presence that he not only wants him dead, but his son Fleance as well. Furthermore, he goes as far as having Macduff’s entire family killed at his estate as a warning to Macduff who he speculates is plotting against him. As a result, it shows that he is more responsible for King Duncan’s murder because he is taking action by having both Banquo and Macduff’s family murdered, almost as if he switched roles with Lady Macbeth who becomes a weak character.
However, it can be said that Lady Macbeth was the driving force behind Macbeth, so that meant she was more responsible, but that claim has many loopholes. In contrast to Macbeth’s constant contemplation and worry, Lady Macbeth’s intentions were made clear in the beginning as she says to herself, “…thou wouldst be great; art not without ambition; but without the illness should attend it.” (Shakespeare 1.5.18-20). Still, it is important to realize that Macbeth is often hypocritical in what he says to others. For example, after Macbeth receives the title of the Thane of Cawdor, he gives an aside, saying “If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me without my stir.” meaning that if fate wants him to become king, then he does not need to do anything acquire the position (Shakespeare 1.4.25). Although this could be used to argue that he had no intentions to kill King Duncan, it only highlight’s Macbeth’s hypocrisy towards the throne. As mentioned before, he secretiveness is revealed when his attitude changes immediately after hearing that Malcom has been given the title of the Prince of Cumberland. Therefore, Lady Macbeth cannot be more responsible when Macbeth wanted to kill King Duncan as much as she did, only he was not as verbal about to her.
In short, Macbeth is more responsible than Lady Macbeth for King Duncan’s murder because not only did he long for the throne, he took action and actually killed him, then sought to kill anyone else in his way. Although Lady Macbeth did try to convince him, Macbeth secretly already planned the murder.